Sorry to raise this yet again, but I thought that the efforts by Leigh, Batley and Fax make a complete mockery of the franchising system. All proved that they are good enough to give the big boys a fright, and if they had been full time pros, probably all three of them could have won. It just makes the franchising lobby even dafter to deny these teams the opportunity to play in SL.

Results ( and crowd sizes ) in a cup competition are not a sensible indicator of a clubs or teams ability to compete at a higher level , that's what leagues are for

Nonsense, it doesn't make a mockery of the franchising system it is an example of "lesser" teams raising their game for the occasion.

Spot on Clitheroe and I have said so in a letter to the League Express. Promotion should be gained by passion, bravery and skill on the field, NOT by suits in boardrooms and chairmen of clubs who suck up to them. Barrie McDermott and Terry O'Connor only spout the franchise nonsense because of their SKY paymasters. These Championships clubs, especially Leigh, have shown that they can mix it with the big boys and they shouldn't have to wait 3 years to see if they are allowed into the SL or not. How can you keep hold of your best players and coaching staff.
Chris Hill deserves his place in SL and I hope that he gets his chance very soon, alas, it can't be with Leigh.

And therein, in my opinion, lies a problem for Championship sides. Inevitably, when someone of Chris's ability develops, he has to graduate to SL. By the time a club like Leigh (or Widnes, or Halifax etc.) get to the promised land, they often end up having to acquire players who, to be frank, probably aren't good enough to lace the likes of Chris's boots.

Was discussing the same thoughts over the weekend,how can a championship team keeps all its players for 3 seasons when they will catch the eyes of super league clubs who will come waving money at them,lets say leigh have a great season couple of trophies boxes ticked nonsense.The team gets tv exposure clubs come and offer them more money than we can pay with the salary cap imposed on lower leagues compared to super league.So how can a championship team so called grow over a 3 year period and develop a team ready for super league? its nonsense

For me in an ideal world we would have P&R but with strict conditions. Mainly having an academy. It's ok saying these sides matched up well to a SL club in a one off game but what if that time was in SL and hit an injury list like Saints have now... Where do they go for players? I know this costs mobey but that's a separate issue that needs sorting.

On players, can't think of too many examples of that happening a lot to any particular club? Players will always want to play at a higher level should the chance come anyway... For example Quins are gutanteed in reality to be in SL forever under this system yet LMS still left to join Saints?

Herein lies the problem with the franchise system ,clubs can build a good squad like Leigh ,win trophies hopefully like Leigh ,have a very good coach ,like Leigh and then have to rebuild all over again year in year out when SL and other clubs come sniffing round for your players and couch ,this could well be the straw for AT and any other backers who feel that the club is going nowhere

How many of the team that ' qualified ' Widnes for SL only 2 years ago will play in your 1 st SL game next February ?

Hardly any by the looks of it BUT how many were snapped up to SL as isn't that the question being asked?